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Freelancing is growing in popularity as more people seek a better work-life balance that fits their needs. Although people still associate freelancing with living a carefree lifestyle that includes being able to travel while working, the truth is you’re a small business owner. Whether you’re freelancing as a consultant after retirement or offering IT services fresh out of college, you’ll need to know how important insurance is to your financial security. Exploring the benefits of business insurance for freelancers and which types to get helps you protect your personal and professional finances.
Understand Why Business Insurance Is Important
As a freelancer, you might have more freedom to choose the clients you prefer to work with regularly. Making sure to work with reputable clients means they’ll likely pay you for your services on time. But you can run into other financial risks.
For instance, your freelance business could be hit with a cyberattack that includes data theft. In this instance, you could face lawsuits from concerned clients whose private information is now in nefarious hands. You may also need to shut down your business operations temporarily to correct the issue, and this can lead to lost income. Freelancers are also at risk for malpractice lawsuits and common disasters such as fire and theft.
Make Sure You Have Adequate Coverage
Most freelance businesses need at least general liability insurance. This type of insurance covers the most common liabilities your company could face. For example, you may need to be ready to cover the cost of personal injuries that occur when customers visit your property or use your services. You can also use this type of insurance to cover property damage that occurs during the course of your work.
If you take credit card payments or hold other types of customer data in your care, you may also need cyber liability insurance. Many people who have been freelancing for years also need to add this type to their existing policies. Since it’s relatively newer, you might not have heard about the need to get cyber liability insurance in the past. Today, you can use this type of policy to cover damages that can occur when essential data gets compromised in any form. You can even use this type of insurance to hire professionals who can identify why a data breach occurred and the best ways to fix the problem.
Consider Bundling Other Types of Insurance Together
Business insurance keeps your company’s operations going when the worst events happen. However, you may also need personal insurance when you’re operating as a sole proprietor. Health insurance is a common concern for freelancers who can’t depend on formal employer-paid programs. You might also need auto insurance that covers business needs if you operate a vehicle specifically for your line of work. Bundling different policies together can help you save on your insurance coverage while making sure you’re fully protected.
Freelancers can enhance their chances of success by working with knowledgeable professionals. Look to the experts at Altra Insurance Services for sound advice based on years of experience in the insurance industry. In addition to business insurance, we offer reliable homeowners, renters, and auto insurance. San Diego residents can call one of our expert agents today to discuss their insurance needs.